diff --git a/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_nat/bsc_nat.c b/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_nat/bsc_nat.c
index d5a3a1f..dd06a70 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_nat/bsc_nat.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_nat/bsc_nat.c
@@ -1510,6 +1510,10 @@
 	}
 
 	nat->ctrl = bsc_nat_controlif_setup(nat, 4250);
+	if (!nat->ctrl) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Creating the control interface failed.\n");
+		exit(1);
+	}
 
 	nat->msc_con->connection_loss = msc_connection_was_lost;
 	nat->msc_con->connected = msc_connection_connected;